The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-05-04

OF Republican members held in the evening,
TO consider the subject OF liquor legislation,
there was apparent a very wide difference OF
opinion opinion especially in regard to the tax upon
that OF saloon-keepers which was no5 favor
ably received. The sentiment seemed To be in
favor OF uniform tax throughout the State.
BorH houses OF the Legislature held brief
sessions on April IS, but on account OF tho
smallness of the attendance the time was occu-
pied in committee Of the whole, and very little
business was transacted. The house agreed to
the bin 70 establish a ystem Of FIRE insurance
by the State. The details are to be settled by
an Insurance Board composed of the Governor.
Attorney General, Secretary OF State, Auditor
General, and the Insurance Commissioner The
bill sets apart 100000 an insurance fund,
and the premiums are to be allowed TO accumu-
late till the fund reaches 81 100000 1t also pro-
vdes for the election Of township insurance
agents in each township and ward, who are TO
be paid by commissions on each policy.
THE Senate was in session but a short time
on the Goth ult. A few bills of minor import
ance were considered in committee of the
whole. The trial Of Representative Milo Dakin,
OF Saginaw, on the charge OF corruption and
malfeasance In office, was begun by the House
OF Representatives. The accused was repfe-
sented by +. l.. Dodge E. C. Holden. and Philip
L. Vanzil The charges preferred were solicit
ing money and stating that certain men,
bers could be bribed for specific sums.
The day was occupied in tho examination of
Fred l.. Eaton, OF Saginaw. Eaton swore that
himself and jay Smith met Mr.. Dakin in the
lobby OF the first floor, at which time Dakin
stated, among other things, the following: Il
sent for Shaekleton TO come down here to bring
some money to put the bill through but he
only brought 81, and that is nothing. 1
think the committee is all right, but we
need money with the members to get the bill
through" Later Eaton met Dakin, Fellows,
and Crowley on the avenue, and they together
went into the Windsor saloon to talk the
matter over Eaton then asked Dakin the
following question: IF we get favorable re-
port from the committee. is there any doubt OF
favorable action by the Housep" TO this Dakin
replied: Not if get what need. We were out
last night until midnight with the boys, seven
OF them, and spent considerable Of the money,
but four OF Them arc solid for us now.' At this
time Fellows remarked: Il was promised some
any. I had only S32 in my pocket when
started, and it is all used up" Eaton then
need?" He replied Il can't tell until L
have begun to work and have made
a CANVASS. 1 can not commence work
until I get the money, for If L should 60 To q
man and talk to him and make him any prom
Uses and then not get any money to give hfm he
would go back on us. Eaton also asked: rs
it prudent thing to be talking about the use
of money!" 1T is all right here" said Dakin.
1T is a regular thing You need not appear in
the matter at all. You can give the money to
me or to Fellows. and it can be used by u.s.
There are thirty-four Grand Army members.
I'm pretty we'll acquainted with them. I'll go
Co see any one Of them, talk with him, and
II think best make an offer Of money Mr.:
Fellows can then pay them what is necessary"
rs it customary here to see members with
money in this way2" "Why, certainly" LET
us see what members will have to be seen.
Name them over. / had roll-cal and asked
Dakin to mark against the names the amounts
needed for each. Dakin did So" Being shown
list Eaton identified the list shown him as
the one Dakin marked. The witness was turned
over TO Attorney Dodge, of the defense, whose
examination proved that the plan of the de-
Tense was to show plot on the part of Eaton 70
get Dakin and others into trouble to vent per-
sonal spite against them.
THE Senate hold its regular session on the
9th ult but spent the entire time in commit
tee Of the whole, forwarding large number OF
bills to third reading. The House OF Represent
atives continued the inquiry into the charge
that Representative Dakin, OF Saginaw, So
licited money TO influence the passage OF
the Saginaw charter bill The witnesses ex-
amined were Jay Smith, City Controller
Crowler. and Alderman Tillotson. all OF Sagi-
nav, and all OF whom corroborated eX- City At
torney Eaton's testimony. Judge Holden open
ed for the defense. He claimed that Dakin had
been more sinned against than SHINING that
while he had done a very stupid act he had not
desigpedly done anything wrong; that
Eaton had practically forced Dakin to
check of names on roll-call; that Eaton S
rejection by the Saginaw City Council when
In which Dakin and his friend Fellows, then an
Alderman, participated, the cause OF
had been in Lansing not to aid in passing the
charter bill, but to draw Dakin into a trap and
ruin him politically. Ex-Alderman Fellows was
placed ON the stand and stated il was under
stood that money was TO be used in entertain
ing members in a social way, and that none
OF it was TO be used corruptly. He had been
present at interviews held with Dakin, and at
no time had anything been said in reference to
improperly influencing members. The defense
made strong use Of the point that in the Com
Inittee on Municipal Corporations was placard
reading I'VE smoke. II you don't, mp goes your
bill" Chairman Bates, of Allegan, explained
that this was intended fine upon tardy
members OF the committee, but had been ex-
tended so as to take IN some outsiders. Certain
Detroit people had planked down silver dollars
TO obtain n hearing. The money was used TO
buy cigars, of which they themselves had
smoked their share.
THE Senate had brief and proftless session
on the 2Sth ult. Three thousand copies OF
the testimony in the graveyard insurance in
vestigation were ordered printed. The House
OF Representatives occupied itself exclusively
with the Dakin bribery investigation. The ac-
cused took the stand and testified in his own
defense. AS 70 the Eaton charges Dakin swore
Il got Eaton in the corridor of the Capitol He
said to Fellows, What is the outlook for the
charter Fellows said Firstrate' Then I
said Mayor Shackleford has gone back to
Saginaw TO get some money. / met Eaton
again about IL o'clock ne ar the Windsor res
taurant. Crowley and Fellows were present.
At the invitation of Eaton went inside and
took n stall. Crowley called for the drinks
Eaton says, We'll, Fellows, Stackleton didn Z
bring your money! Fellows said No. Eaton
took a call from his pocket and says to me.
Now, Dakin, these friends you like TO have a
good time with, Just check them off, 1 did So
Then no says, How much will il cost but I
said had no idea. Then he said: Get down
the amounts l set them down as near as
could TO tally with my judgment. The amounts
were meant for a good time in n social way
II he had not urged it 1 would not have
checked the list / am not a drinking
man, but occasionally take some wine.
That morning drank whisky and quinine, as I
was feeling bad, and then sour wine twice. !"
The evident purpose OF the testimony was to
show that Dakin was half drunk at the time the
list was made but Dakin continued, substan-
TALLY confirming the testimony of Eaton and
Crowley, but insisting that the money was TO be
used only for social purposes. Did you expect
10 corrupt the members of this House ?" ask ed
Judge Holden, very gravely. NO. siri' re-
sponded Dakin, with emphasis on his words.
Judge Holden waited, so that the emphasis
might have full effect but Dakin added, with q
laugh Il think they are higher priced than that.
Late at night the arguments were concluded
and the case submitted to the House. BY a
vote OF 80 to ii it was decided that he had en-
deavored to procure money from +. T. Eaton
and John Fl. Stackleton, ostensibly TO corrupt
members, but really with view TO appropriat-
ing TO his own use. OF the specific charges that
he had placed estimated price after the
found guilty, resolution was then offered
hat ha lad frnD, no aud